Micah cleared his throat. “I was also part of it, ma’am. Not just Axel. We both mucked things up real bad back then.”
“Well, I’m disappointed in you too, Micah. You know better than to act like that.” She pursed her lips together. “And you, Axel David Stevenson. You certainly know better. I didn’t raise you to pick on people—to bully people? Girls? You should be ashamed of yourself.”
“I am,” he said instantly. “Very ashamed. I’ve asked Jasmine for her forgiveness, but I also intend to prove to her every day that I’m a different person. I’ve grown up into a better man. I’ve changed.”
I exhaled a breath that it felt like I’d been holding since the moment we’d walked in. My heart hurt for the pain and the shame Axel was going through. God knew I’d experienced enough of it myself—mostly at his and Micah’s hands.
But I did believe people could change. I also believed in forgiveness and making a new start, which was what we wanted to do.
“I’ve forgiven him for the things he’s said and done,” I said, giving his hand a squeeze. “I’ve forgiven both of them. I honestly believe they’ve both changed a lot. Axel and Micah are good men, and you should know you did a good job raising your son.”
It was all the truth. It didn’t even hurt to give Tanya a compliment since I’d finally been able to understand where all of her animosity had been coming from. Between the feud and her personal feelings about me, it wasn’t any wonder that she’d treated me so coldly when I’d shown up at her door with her son.
“Thank you,” she said, looking a little sheepish. “And I clearly owe you an apology, Jasmine. I’m sorry that I was rude. Of course, you’re welcome here in my home anytime. I mean that.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” I said as all my anger and frustration melted away, leaving only relief and happiness.
“There’s something else you should know, Mama,” Axel said, taking me by surprise. Micah also shot him a questioning look, but he pressed on. “I’m in love with Jasmine. You will be seeing more of her in the future.”
“I’m glad,” she smiled. “I really am.”
“But that’s not all,” he continued.
Tanya sunk down into a dining room chair. “I was afraid it wasn’t. Please don’t tell me you’ve done anything worse than bullying; that’s already bad enough.”
“No, nothing like that.” Axel swallowed hard and glanced over at Micah. “I’m not the only one who is in love with Jasmine, though.”
Micah must have felt like he was about to be thrown under an oncoming truck.
To his credit, he didn’t shy away from it. “I love her, too. We both have for a long time.”
“And I love both of them,” I added, before turning to each of them to repeat it again. “I love you, Axel. And I love you, Micah. I think it’s the first time I’ve said those words out loud, but it’s true. I want to be with both of you.”
Tanya’s mouth hung open, and she looked at the three of us like we’d each grown an extra head. “How is that... what?” She cocked her head as she looked at me. “How are you going to choose between the two of them? How will it be fair?”
“I’m not going to choose,” was the most honest answer I could give. “Not ever.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” she said, but the look on her face told me she was slowly processing what we were telling her. “The three of you are... together?”
“Yes,” Axel said as we all nodded at once. “The three of us are a... well, not a couple, obviously. A throuple. We’re together, and we’re going to stay together.”
She blinked, then slowly looked at each of us in turn. “You all seem serious, so... I’m happy for you. For all of you. I’m sure you’ve taken into consideration that people in town will gossip. Some people might be unkind.”
“We’re prepared to deal with that,” Axel said.
“They won’t be unkind to our faces,” Micah added. “Not more than once, anyway.”
Tanya smiled at that. “Well, if you’re happy—I’m happy. I only want the best for my family, and it looks like that’s going to include all three of you now.”
Family.
Happiness.
It had taken a lot of honesty and soul-baring to get to that point, but it had been worth every minute. The relief and joy in the air was palpable as Axel and Micah hugged me tight while Tanya watched with a smile.
The conversation had turned out so much better than I ever hoped for. I had my guys. Our families had each given their blessings. Axel’s relationship with his mother hadn’t been ruined.
I wasn’t generally superstitious, but it seemed like a really good sign for things to come.
“What are you going to do about your job in L.A.?” Tanya asked the only question that remained left to decide. “That’s a long way to commute, no matter how in love you are.”